CRC Press Survival Guide to General Chemistry

This work evolved over thirty combined years of teaching general chemistry to a variety of student demographics. The focus is not to recap or review the theoretical concepts well described in the available texts.Instead, the topics and descriptions in this book make available specific, detailed step-by-step methods and procedures for solving the major types of problems in general chemistry. Explanations, instructional process sequences, solved examples and completely solved practice problems are greatly expanded, containing significantly more detail than can usually be devoted to in a comprehensive text. Many chapters also provide alternative viewpoints as an aid to understanding. Key Features: The authors have included every major topic in the first semester of general chemistry and most major topics from the second semester. Each is written in a specific and detailed step-by-step process for problem solving, whether mathematical or conceptual Each topic has greatly expanded examples and solved practice problems containing significantly more detail than found in comprehensive texts Includes a chapter designed to eliminate confusion concerning acid/base reactions which often persists through working with acid/base equilibrium Many chapters provide alternative viewpoints as an aid to understanding This book addresses a very real need for a large number of incoming freshman in STEM fields Review This "survival guide" is a detailed and clear exposition of how to approach and solve the great variety of problems students may encounter during a university general chemistry course. Each chapter or section begins with a very condensed explanation of the topics to be covered; the text then describes the process for analyzing problems, presents typical problems with step-by-step solutions, then poses a group of practice problems for which solutions are given. There are few conceptual problems posed. One of the authors has extensive experience in teaching general chemistry; another is an industrial chemist; and the third is a post-doctoral fellow with biomedical experience. While the book is not intended to replace the textbook, it serves as a companion offering step-by-step guidance through a general chemistry course. -H. Goldwhite, emeritus, California State University, Los Angeles About the Author  Dr Patrick E. McMahon has for the past twenty three years been teaching both general chemistry and organic chemistry at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. Prior to that, he was a research scientist for Amoco Chemical Company at the Naperville, Illinois campus. McMahon has also taught at several institutions in the Chicago area, including Elmhurst College, Dominican University and Triton Community College. He is a member of the American Legion and served in the United States Army from 1970-1972. His main area of research interest is organic reaction catalysis. Awards that can be accredited to his name include the B.J. Babler award for outstanding contribution to under-graduate instruction at the University of Illinois, the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence at Benedictine University and first recipient of the Shining Star award given by the student senate for outstanding contribution to students at Benedictine University. Rosemary F. McMahon earned her B. S. with highest distinction in chemistry, M. S., and Ph. D. in organic chemistry at the University of Illinois. Her industrial career at Amoco Chemical and British Petroleum spanned chemicals process research and development, chemicals manufacturing, technical service, and customer support. She worked in oxidation chemistry, environmental catalyst chemistry, catalyst recovery processes, and manufacturing for product lines which included purified terephthalic acid, dimethyl 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate, and acrylonitrile. Her career later branched out to information technology as a patent and technical literature specialist supporting all technologie